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Unforeseen Enemy: A Thriller Novel
★★★★★ "I am a Tom Clancy fan, and this was as good."- GOODREADS reviewer A GRIPPING, SUSPENSEFUL THRILLER.The stakes are always high for Jack Shaw, a sniper and intelligence operative for the Global Intelligence Agency. But now, following the death of his partner during a botched GIA mission, the stakes have never been more personal. Jack missed his target the first time. Was the mistake purely human, or is he losing his grip?Now he'll get the chance to find out. Paired with the far younger operative Yi Ling, Jack embarks on a deadly follow-up mission to track down the Romanian criminal that evaded his crosshairs.But when their target is revealed to be merely the tip of the iceberg in a much more sinister scheme, they must confront an even greater evil—a corrupt sociopath named Wong. This twisted mastermind controls what he claims to be the holy grail of human genetic engineering.In a manhunt spanning the globe, Jack and Yi face the riskiest test of their careers as the murders multiply and trusted friends become sworn enemies. Against the cinematic backdrop of Singapore, Jack and Yi barrel toward an epic showdown with Wong that will determine whether his homicidal technology is unleashed on a massive scale that could alter the course of human history.
454 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
September 9, 2018
The story spreads over about 439 pages and over 70 chapters, I expected it to be purely action-packed thriller with unexpected turns due to genetic engineering impact on human life, this book surprised me and it is one great novel giving thought-provoking insights into mature relationships creation and maintaining for long-term, be it at workplace buddies/ colleagues or with complex life partner in varied situations.
It’s a psychological thriller.
The beginning brings forth a loser’s tendencies due to high emotional nature and passion for the job. Though emotionalism is a positive trait, an inability to cope with it brings tragedies for the lead character and doubt towards the capabilities in the mind of co-workers for Jack. Working in a Global Intelligence agency brings great power and responsibility for the intelligence agent Jack. His emotional vulnerabilities, passion for work and attachment / responsibility towards co-workers are beautifully yet subtly brought out while sharing his short coming and first failure to reach a goal.
Jack’s reflective thoughts towards his own life are revealed as the story unfolds, the experiences of life and relationships gives questions to the reader’s mind and is shown to give strength and inspiration to move on in spite of obstacles and need to have inner conviction.
As the story progresses, a chance to prove oneself in a mission after being doubted for competency by colleagues, Jack evolves as a person as well as the story takes interesting turns with the progress in the fierce mission with a smart, graceful and wise for age, Yi Link. The story moves with speed at times and less so at other times; as the corruption of the mind by an intellectual yet psychologically sick personality of Wong towards the use of the genetic engineering technology gets revealed and the direction of human existence is threatened.
The story setup, character building, personalities and world are original and come alive with the amazing description. Each incident leaves a mark on the minds of the readers by its storyline. Whether it’s the stupendous ending wherein Jack is able to ‘Let go’ so easily and move on towards positive life with a renewed vision or the depressing beginning of the story which makes one imagine a negative end to the personality and life of Jack. The impermanence of the materialistic things such as awards and the beauty of long lasting relationships are expressed wonderfully in the conclusion.
The set up across locations of Romania, USA, India, Singapore, Iraq, Kuwait, Malasia, Thailand and situations arising therein gives a wing to the imagination of the readers to have a vivid image of the descriptions.
The vicious and morbidly active mindset of Wong is brought out in amazing way as he questions himself and gives the answers to himself (self-talk) at the different stages in the story. As I read further, I wondered as to how such a cruel human personality is created. The answers unfolded in the history and made me feel empathetic towards a character depicted cruel yet with feelings and a heart capable of feeling alone, weak, pain and sufferings unrevealing a insensitive nature towards all those who inflicted sadness. It gives insight into the making of a sadistic personality and I wondered whether a creation of such a personality could be averted. I think that would be a creation for another storyline.
The sadistic macho mentality leading to loss of lives, pain and suffering at times is unbearable to read due to the amazing description which makes the scenes go alive in my mind. Yes the depth and the magnificent use of language to build the story needs to be appreciated.
Would make a wonderful psychopath thriller movie. Not recommended to watch for teenagers. As a story book, all age groups can read it but its too aggressive at times for the sensitive ones but on second thoughts some sensitive readers may pick it up and read it through and get wonderful insight into the workings of the mind.
Only one story in page 437 “Wong’s models were like circus elephants from the old days, before animal freak shows were banned. The baby circus elephants grew up with their ankles pinned to the ground by ……released into the wild would always be a caged animal, in some way.” The sad thing is that I have read and listened to this story so many times that I felt it to be too common in such an original book. Yet, on second thoughts it is an apt story for the situation and maybe many readers can relate to it.
There is a pleathora of words used for describing and creating the setting and the world. The good part is that the fantastic world creation gives an impetus to imagine the entire realm, best for the learners who sit with a dictionary and find the meaning and increase their vocabulary so that’s a good point. But for those lazy ones who just read for the sake of reading without trying to understand, there are quite a number of descriptions which will go above their heads. Such readers may think that they understand the exact meaning of the words but in fact it would not be so as vocabulary is really of high level (awesome).
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is an amazing thrilling novel. All the best for this one and future books that you will write.
It’s a psychological thriller.
The beginning brings forth a loser’s tendencies due to high emotional nature and passion for the job. Though emotionalism is a positive trait, an inability to cope with it brings tragedies for the lead character and doubt towards the capabilities in the mind of co-workers for Jack. Working in a Global Intelligence agency brings great power and responsibility for the intelligence agent Jack. His emotional vulnerabilities, passion for work and attachment / responsibility towards co-workers are beautifully yet subtly brought out while sharing his short coming and first failure to reach a goal.
Jack’s reflective thoughts towards his own life are revealed as the story unfolds, the experiences of life and relationships gives questions to the reader’s mind and is shown to give strength and inspiration to move on in spite of obstacles and need to have inner conviction.
As the story progresses, a chance to prove oneself in a mission after being doubted for competency by colleagues, Jack evolves as a person as well as the story takes interesting turns with the progress in the fierce mission with a smart, graceful and wise for age, Yi Link. The story moves with speed at times and less so at other times; as the corruption of the mind by an intellectual yet psychologically sick personality of Wong towards the use of the genetic engineering technology gets revealed and the direction of human existence is threatened.
The story setup, character building, personalities and world are original and come alive with the amazing description. Each incident leaves a mark on the minds of the readers by its storyline. Whether it’s the stupendous ending wherein Jack is able to ‘Let go’ so easily and move on towards positive life with a renewed vision or the depressing beginning of the story which makes one imagine a negative end to the personality and life of Jack. The impermanence of the materialistic things such as awards and the beauty of long lasting relationships are expressed wonderfully in the conclusion.
The set up across locations of Romania, USA, India, Singapore, Iraq, Kuwait, Malasia, Thailand and situations arising therein gives a wing to the imagination of the readers to have a vivid image of the descriptions.
The vicious and morbidly active mindset of Wong is brought out in amazing way as he questions himself and gives the answers to himself (self-talk) at the different stages in the story. As I read further, I wondered as to how such a cruel human personality is created. The answers unfolded in the history and made me feel empathetic towards a character depicted cruel yet with feelings and a heart capable of feeling alone, weak, pain and sufferings unrevealing a insensitive nature towards all those who inflicted sadness. It gives insight into the making of a sadistic personality and I wondered whether a creation of such a personality could be averted. I think that would be a creation for another storyline.
The sadistic macho mentality leading to loss of lives, pain and suffering at times is unbearable to read due to the amazing description which makes the scenes go alive in my mind. Yes the depth and the magnificent use of language to build the story needs to be appreciated.
Would make a wonderful psychopath thriller movie. Not recommended to watch for teenagers. As a story book, all age groups can read it but its too aggressive at times for the sensitive ones but on second thoughts some sensitive readers may pick it up and read it through and get wonderful insight into the workings of the mind.
Only one story in page 437 “Wong’s models were like circus elephants from the old days, before animal freak shows were banned. The baby circus elephants grew up with their ankles pinned to the ground by ……released into the wild would always be a caged animal, in some way.” The sad thing is that I have read and listened to this story so many times that I felt it to be too common in such an original book. Yet, on second thoughts it is an apt story for the situation and maybe many readers can relate to it.
There is a pleathora of words used for describing and creating the setting and the world. The good part is that the fantastic world creation gives an impetus to imagine the entire realm, best for the learners who sit with a dictionary and find the meaning and increase their vocabulary so that’s a good point. But for those lazy ones who just read for the sake of reading without trying to understand, there are quite a number of descriptions which will go above their heads. Such readers may think that they understand the exact meaning of the words but in fact it would not be so as vocabulary is really of high level (awesome).
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It is an amazing thrilling novel. All the best for this one and future books that you will write.
July 11, 2018
I had the opportunity to read “Unforeseen Enemy” by Carl Strom and was pleasantly surprised by the author’s attention to detail the author demonstrated from the early pages of the book. I was easily sucked in the story and found myself in a detailed world, set on a futuristic Earth that embraced technology.
The story circles around Jack Shaw, elite sniper and covert operations agent for the Global Intelligence Agency, and Yi Ling, his young partner fresh out of the GIA’s academy program. Joined by various other characters acting as team members and colleagues, the two embark on a globetrotting journey of justice filled with memorable revelations, detailed action sequences and well-grounded villains. From the USA to Romania, Malaysia to Sudan, Jack and Yi travel the world of the 21st century, visiting tech-filled locales in their search for Lazarescu, the target of Shaw’s hunt.
Tackling themes like security, covert operations and human genetic engineering, “Unforeseen Enemy” is the results of a visibly laborious work of research by Carl Strom. The “designer humans” present in the book are a good twist on societal ethics. Having specially engineered humans filling jobs like muscle handling tough exchanges between criminal underworld bosses and escort girls made to suits specific tastes amongst other occupations adds a twist to an almost familiar setting. Ably put together, the story takes the reader on a trip filled with rewards. Starting with a slow and methodical introduction in the world of “Unforeseen Enemy”, the story and character backgrounds are constructed around intricate details woven into the pages of the book. From the first chapter of the book, the reader is presented with a scene laced with intricate details, minute actions of Jack as he prepares to complete a GIA operation. From twitches to small movements, everything is presented to the reader in order to facilitate an easy immersion in the story.
Without spoiling the story too much, after Jack’s mission fails, the story starts unfolding, adding more characters into the mix. Background information is often delivered in dedicated chapters, with news stories covering border incidents between Kuwait and Iraq for example. The action takes places in multiple time frames and through flashbacks and memories the reader can find out more about characters and events surrounding them. From one mission to another, Jack and Yi Ling try to track Lazarescu and other grand directors of the criminal world through extraordinary circumstances, with the book ending providing a thoughtful finale to a great story.
If you love books then you’ll definitely love “Unforeseen Enemy”. Fans of layered conspiracies can find a rewarding plot in Carl Strom’s book. Give this book a go and you will not be disappointed.
The story circles around Jack Shaw, elite sniper and covert operations agent for the Global Intelligence Agency, and Yi Ling, his young partner fresh out of the GIA’s academy program. Joined by various other characters acting as team members and colleagues, the two embark on a globetrotting journey of justice filled with memorable revelations, detailed action sequences and well-grounded villains. From the USA to Romania, Malaysia to Sudan, Jack and Yi travel the world of the 21st century, visiting tech-filled locales in their search for Lazarescu, the target of Shaw’s hunt.
Tackling themes like security, covert operations and human genetic engineering, “Unforeseen Enemy” is the results of a visibly laborious work of research by Carl Strom. The “designer humans” present in the book are a good twist on societal ethics. Having specially engineered humans filling jobs like muscle handling tough exchanges between criminal underworld bosses and escort girls made to suits specific tastes amongst other occupations adds a twist to an almost familiar setting. Ably put together, the story takes the reader on a trip filled with rewards. Starting with a slow and methodical introduction in the world of “Unforeseen Enemy”, the story and character backgrounds are constructed around intricate details woven into the pages of the book. From the first chapter of the book, the reader is presented with a scene laced with intricate details, minute actions of Jack as he prepares to complete a GIA operation. From twitches to small movements, everything is presented to the reader in order to facilitate an easy immersion in the story.
Without spoiling the story too much, after Jack’s mission fails, the story starts unfolding, adding more characters into the mix. Background information is often delivered in dedicated chapters, with news stories covering border incidents between Kuwait and Iraq for example. The action takes places in multiple time frames and through flashbacks and memories the reader can find out more about characters and events surrounding them. From one mission to another, Jack and Yi Ling try to track Lazarescu and other grand directors of the criminal world through extraordinary circumstances, with the book ending providing a thoughtful finale to a great story.
If you love books then you’ll definitely love “Unforeseen Enemy”. Fans of layered conspiracies can find a rewarding plot in Carl Strom’s book. Give this book a go and you will not be disappointed.
July 12, 2018
I started reading Unforeseen Enemy as a challenge, it was way out of my comfort zone, so to say... Techno and thriller was a double no go to me. So, I armed myself with patience, lots of it, expecting to get lost in technical stuff or, even worse, find myself trapped in the literary equivalent of a Steven Saegal movie (I appologise to all of you who like this sort of movies, it's just not my thing). I've had my share of unfinished books before, either because they were too boring or too unappealing to bother with them, so I was just hoping it would not be another one novel of this kind.
But, then, only a few chapters later, I found myself caught in Jack's dramatic and adventurous mission. I appreciated the way in which his inner self was presented to the reader, how you could feel the sweat on his forehead, suffer along with him for the loss of his partner and long for him to have the life he wanted with his daughter. The rich description of his thoughts, feelings, the meticulous details of the places, make you become part of the action. I loved the flashbacks which gave insight into the character and the way different events were presented from more perspectives. Politics on the background gave full meaning to the conspiracy surrounding Jack and Yi.
I would have liked to get deeper into Wong's past and childhood issues, but maybe that is just me, it definitely does not lessen the interest in the story.
T9, C2 and all the designer humans made me think of Kazuo Ishiguro's orphans in When we were orphans, at a different level, but, nonetheless, serving the same mischievous purposes of mankind. It is the focus on humanity which struck me throughout the novel.
All in all, I don't regret the time spending on reading the book. It surprised me pleasantly, it kept me connected to the story and I would surely look at the genre with different eyes from now on.
But, then, only a few chapters later, I found myself caught in Jack's dramatic and adventurous mission. I appreciated the way in which his inner self was presented to the reader, how you could feel the sweat on his forehead, suffer along with him for the loss of his partner and long for him to have the life he wanted with his daughter. The rich description of his thoughts, feelings, the meticulous details of the places, make you become part of the action. I loved the flashbacks which gave insight into the character and the way different events were presented from more perspectives. Politics on the background gave full meaning to the conspiracy surrounding Jack and Yi.
I would have liked to get deeper into Wong's past and childhood issues, but maybe that is just me, it definitely does not lessen the interest in the story.
T9, C2 and all the designer humans made me think of Kazuo Ishiguro's orphans in When we were orphans, at a different level, but, nonetheless, serving the same mischievous purposes of mankind. It is the focus on humanity which struck me throughout the novel.
All in all, I don't regret the time spending on reading the book. It surprised me pleasantly, it kept me connected to the story and I would surely look at the genre with different eyes from now on.
July 16, 2018
Carl Strom’s latest novel is a whirlwind thriller which explores the grand ideas of future technology and genetic engineering. Jack Shaw, the Global Intelligence Agency’s best man finds himself in a sticky situation when he fails to kill his target when on assignment in Bucharest, Romania. This is a focused and exciting opening which uses the precision of a sniper to unfold plot ideas and set the tone for the rest of the text. This begs the question – is Jack fit for duty? Something the reader will find out as his tangled professional career – which must remain secret – and personal life is unraveled as he relives the trauma and strife of his past.
Set in different places around the world and told from different points of view, like villain and newspaper perspectives, it gives the illusion of having the full scope of the story.
The book features ideas on the future of technology. His artificially created humans are used in combat and as sex slaves and are not given proper names. This provokes thought on the ethics of human genetic engineering and highlights the risks if they are to be produced and used by people with malicious intent. The synthetic humans are branded with a double helix to remind us that they are products and property, like expensive cattle.
Strom pays a visit to the rich and corrupt underworld where the players are excessively wealthy, dangerous businessmen. This often results in violence and gory scenes that will leave the reader feeling sick and unsettled. This coupled with cool technological weaponry is bound to keep the thriller/mystery lover engaged throughout. The book is a good all-rounder – dramatic, suspenseful, detailed, personal, thrilling and mysterious.
Set in different places around the world and told from different points of view, like villain and newspaper perspectives, it gives the illusion of having the full scope of the story.
The book features ideas on the future of technology. His artificially created humans are used in combat and as sex slaves and are not given proper names. This provokes thought on the ethics of human genetic engineering and highlights the risks if they are to be produced and used by people with malicious intent. The synthetic humans are branded with a double helix to remind us that they are products and property, like expensive cattle.
Strom pays a visit to the rich and corrupt underworld where the players are excessively wealthy, dangerous businessmen. This often results in violence and gory scenes that will leave the reader feeling sick and unsettled. This coupled with cool technological weaponry is bound to keep the thriller/mystery lover engaged throughout. The book is a good all-rounder – dramatic, suspenseful, detailed, personal, thrilling and mysterious.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2018
Book Review By Joseph Adeniyi
Book:UNFORESEEN ENENEMY
AUTHOR: CARL STROM
"THE UNFORESEEN ENENEMY" WAS WRITTEN BY CARL STROM IN 2018 AZ HIS FIRST PUBLICATION. THE BOOK REVOLVES AROUND JACK WHO I CONSIDER TO BE THE MAJOR CHARACTER OF THIS BOOK WHO HAPPENS TO BE A SNIPER FOR THE GIA WITH A GOOD TRACK RECORD IN HIS JOB AND HAS NEVER MISSED A TARGET UNTIL HE MISSED HIS FIRST TARGET DURING A BOTCHED GIA MISSION WHICH ALSO LED TO THE DEATH OF HIS PARTNER "CLIVE"LEAVING JACK WITH THE PAIN TO UNRAVEL CLIVE'S KILLER AND "THE UNFORESEEN ENEMY.DUE TO THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PROSE STRUCTURE THE AUTHOR EMPLOYED IN WRITING THIS BOOK IT GIVES A VIVIDNESS OF THE IMAGINATIONS AND ILLUSTRATION OF THIS SIMPLE BUT YET INSIGHTFUL STORY THAT PORTRAYS BETRAYAL, HATRED, VENGEANCE, TECHNOLOGICAL INVENTIONS OF HUMAN MODELS,SECURITY,PASSION AND WELL STRUCTURED INVESTIGATIONS THAT LED TO THE UNRAVELING OF THE UNFORESEEN ENEMY WITHIN THE GIA"Fischer"THE BREAKING POINT OF THIS BOOK FOR ME IS THAT THE ENEMY WAS UNRAVELED AND JUSTICE IN THIS GRAET MASTER PIECE WRITTEN BY CARL,HE IS INDEED A GOOD WRITER WITH GREAT IMAGINATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS TO PORTRAY HIS MESSAGE AND I INDEED APPLAUD HIS SENSE OF WRITING. I WOULD ADVICE SECURIY PERSONNELS AND EVERY ONE TO GET THIS BOOK"THE UNFORSEEN ENEMY".
Book:UNFORESEEN ENENEMY
AUTHOR: CARL STROM
"THE UNFORESEEN ENENEMY" WAS WRITTEN BY CARL STROM IN 2018 AZ HIS FIRST PUBLICATION. THE BOOK REVOLVES AROUND JACK WHO I CONSIDER TO BE THE MAJOR CHARACTER OF THIS BOOK WHO HAPPENS TO BE A SNIPER FOR THE GIA WITH A GOOD TRACK RECORD IN HIS JOB AND HAS NEVER MISSED A TARGET UNTIL HE MISSED HIS FIRST TARGET DURING A BOTCHED GIA MISSION WHICH ALSO LED TO THE DEATH OF HIS PARTNER "CLIVE"LEAVING JACK WITH THE PAIN TO UNRAVEL CLIVE'S KILLER AND "THE UNFORESEEN ENEMY.DUE TO THE SIMPLICITY OF THE PROSE STRUCTURE THE AUTHOR EMPLOYED IN WRITING THIS BOOK IT GIVES A VIVIDNESS OF THE IMAGINATIONS AND ILLUSTRATION OF THIS SIMPLE BUT YET INSIGHTFUL STORY THAT PORTRAYS BETRAYAL, HATRED, VENGEANCE, TECHNOLOGICAL INVENTIONS OF HUMAN MODELS,SECURITY,PASSION AND WELL STRUCTURED INVESTIGATIONS THAT LED TO THE UNRAVELING OF THE UNFORESEEN ENEMY WITHIN THE GIA"Fischer"THE BREAKING POINT OF THIS BOOK FOR ME IS THAT THE ENEMY WAS UNRAVELED AND JUSTICE IN THIS GRAET MASTER PIECE WRITTEN BY CARL,HE IS INDEED A GOOD WRITER WITH GREAT IMAGINATIVE ILLUSTRATIONS TO PORTRAY HIS MESSAGE AND I INDEED APPLAUD HIS SENSE OF WRITING. I WOULD ADVICE SECURIY PERSONNELS AND EVERY ONE TO GET THIS BOOK"THE UNFORSEEN ENEMY".
July 22, 2018
With Unforseen enemy you jump into a world of fast pace action and intricate conspiracies. Set in a bleak and very possible near future, experience what is like to be a secret operative that has to fight not only against crime syndicates but also his inner demons.
The thing that struck me, right from the first lines, was the realistic and tense situations, described in great detail. Just like the protagonist, as he’s setting up for a sniper shot, you’ll feel your heart pounding, your hands clamming up, and that moment of expectation as the bullet is flying through the air.
The different stories that are intertwined slowly untangle to reveal a complex and fascinating picture. As the title suggests, you can never know who to trust and there are unpredictable twists all throughout.
Beyond the surface, there are a number of important socio-political themes explored – the ethics of bioengineering, the dwindling of fossil fuels and monopoly of certain countries, the profiteering of of wars.
Finally, I have to mention Mr. Wong, a Bond-like villain that quotes Sartre and is more devious than you can imagine, the perfect antagonist.
What a great read!
The thing that struck me, right from the first lines, was the realistic and tense situations, described in great detail. Just like the protagonist, as he’s setting up for a sniper shot, you’ll feel your heart pounding, your hands clamming up, and that moment of expectation as the bullet is flying through the air.
The different stories that are intertwined slowly untangle to reveal a complex and fascinating picture. As the title suggests, you can never know who to trust and there are unpredictable twists all throughout.
Beyond the surface, there are a number of important socio-political themes explored – the ethics of bioengineering, the dwindling of fossil fuels and monopoly of certain countries, the profiteering of of wars.
Finally, I have to mention Mr. Wong, a Bond-like villain that quotes Sartre and is more devious than you can imagine, the perfect antagonist.
What a great read!
July 26, 2018
I loved this book because I enjoyed it a lot. Carl Strom may be a new author, but his writing is superb and impressive. He has a gift for writing with exquisite detail to the point that you can feel as though you are a character in the story and lose your sense of self. It is truly an adventure and such fun to read this book. It takes you on an unpredictable ride where you never know what is going to happen next. The story allows you to get inside of the head of some of the main characters so that you have a better understanding of what makes them the way that they are. There is violence, action, drama, mystery, and romance. There are people using their power and money to create people for more money, war, and lust. There are government agencies with some corrupt people within those agencies who make the good government people have to figure out who they can trust. There are regular people doing extraordinary things and you just can't help but root for them. I recommend this book for anyone who read Carl's first book, 24 Hours, and enjoyed that. I also recommend this book for anyone who loves a good adventure book that is full of all kinds of great stuff.
July 29, 2018
A very ambitious work, The Unforseen Enemy captivates the reader from the first pages with swift action and graphic descriptions. A very enjoyable novel, with a labyrinth of plot and character motivations. Very detailed and explicit, the novel guides you through the streets of Romania, the hotels of Singapore and Police stations in Malaysia, depicting a fictional, yet very plausible, existence. While we are submerged in the secret world of some gruesome research facilities, our imagination is captivated by sexy ”designer human females” and a new and improved kind of soldier. The reader is confronted with morally disturbing research and vivid depictions of events which makes us wonder where is this world heading?
The investigation leads a PTSD tormented Jack to shocking revelations, including a few choice items about himself, and we really hope he will be successful in overcoming his demons.
I can very easily see this book turned into a movie, with its fast paced action spread over several countries. Actually, this is how i felt the action in this book, like watching a movie. A true masterpiece that kept me on the edge the whole time.
The investigation leads a PTSD tormented Jack to shocking revelations, including a few choice items about himself, and we really hope he will be successful in overcoming his demons.
I can very easily see this book turned into a movie, with its fast paced action spread over several countries. Actually, this is how i felt the action in this book, like watching a movie. A true masterpiece that kept me on the edge the whole time.
August 3, 2018
Unforeseen Enemy is a fast-paced novel and it derives it freshness and originality by the way it successfully carries out the various conventions of the thriller genre. The genetic engineering theme of cloning in this story is very interesting and probable (to happen in the distant future). The story in itself is well-weaved and intertwined. The settings mentioned in the plot have been wisely chosen and are integral to the story as it provides a convincing and engaging backdrop. The pace of the plot is logical, fast and action-packed, which leaves the readers wanting to go on and on.
It is not just a ‘shoot the bad guys’ super-hero kind of thriller but a cleverly thought action-packed story with an intriguing bio-genetic and ethical theme. The various plot twists works well, keeping the readers guessing and it never gets predictable nor formulaic. The protagonist portrays a strong character as he fights against all odds to succeed in his mission and never gives up till the end. Even the romance that blossoms between him and his partner adds up as a delight to the plot. All in all, a must-read book for the techno-thriller fans!
It is not just a ‘shoot the bad guys’ super-hero kind of thriller but a cleverly thought action-packed story with an intriguing bio-genetic and ethical theme. The various plot twists works well, keeping the readers guessing and it never gets predictable nor formulaic. The protagonist portrays a strong character as he fights against all odds to succeed in his mission and never gives up till the end. Even the romance that blossoms between him and his partner adds up as a delight to the plot. All in all, a must-read book for the techno-thriller fans!
July 13, 2018
This is the first book I read written by author Carl Strom and it really is a "techno thriller novel" as described by the title. This novel has surprised and hooked me because, although I'm not particularly fan of the military genre, the way the author writes makes you feel like you're living inside a movie and the novel does not just happen within the militia genre, it has touches of science and humor. In addition to that, the descriptions and metaphors that Carl uses to make his story as vivid as possible were part of the things that I liked the most, since they are not opulent, but on the contrary, they feel as if your best friend was relating you a real experience.
The plot is complex but not entangled at all, in fact, it keeps you turning the pages incessantly, because despite being narrated in 70 short chapters that happen between Asia and the USA, the novel simply does not give you rest and keeps you on the lookout for what will happen next.
The plot is complex but not entangled at all, in fact, it keeps you turning the pages incessantly, because despite being narrated in 70 short chapters that happen between Asia and the USA, the novel simply does not give you rest and keeps you on the lookout for what will happen next.
July 31, 2018
Amazing from beginning to end!
I found myself captivated by the meticulous description and action-packed events troughout the whole story!
And the characters -- they were all very likeable and consistent. Some of them even surprised me. I mean, the main character - Jack - was very relatable plus he was proven to be very smart and good at his job. But that's not it! One of the things I liked the most about this book was the twists.
Another thing I found really amusing was the new technology and devices from the futuristic era. This author really has a great imagination and sense of creativity.
I really, REALLY liked this story. It's packed with a little bit of everything so the reader can be easily swept into this adventure.
Great ending as well. It was all such a roller coaster but it left me peaceful at the end and I'm thankful for that.
I found myself captivated by the meticulous description and action-packed events troughout the whole story!
And the characters -- they were all very likeable and consistent. Some of them even surprised me. I mean, the main character - Jack - was very relatable plus he was proven to be very smart and good at his job. But that's not it! One of the things I liked the most about this book was the twists.
Another thing I found really amusing was the new technology and devices from the futuristic era. This author really has a great imagination and sense of creativity.
I really, REALLY liked this story. It's packed with a little bit of everything so the reader can be easily swept into this adventure.
Great ending as well. It was all such a roller coaster but it left me peaceful at the end and I'm thankful for that.
July 9, 2018
I have considered myself very lucky in 2018. This will be my the seventh book I've read this year that left me in utter silence, contemplating what I am currently reading. Kept me interested but halfway through came undone, just to say my mind on this fantastic thriller.
Jack combining so well with Yi, to look for the Romanian criminal who killed his previous partner nailed it for me. I knew there is so much depth to the story than meets the eye, especially when Wong showed up. The gripping tales of brotherhood, courage under fire, and humanity robbed me of my words.
Being one of the first few people to start reading it, I'm glad there is no one here to spoil the plot for me. neither will I spoil the plot for you. So, I won't run over too many twists yet.
I'm off to continuing from where I stopped, I just gotta know what happens before the end of tomorrow
Jack combining so well with Yi, to look for the Romanian criminal who killed his previous partner nailed it for me. I knew there is so much depth to the story than meets the eye, especially when Wong showed up. The gripping tales of brotherhood, courage under fire, and humanity robbed me of my words.
Being one of the first few people to start reading it, I'm glad there is no one here to spoil the plot for me. neither will I spoil the plot for you. So, I won't run over too many twists yet.
I'm off to continuing from where I stopped, I just gotta know what happens before the end of tomorrow
July 16, 2018
OK, so first I thought an all-around-the-globe action is a bit slippery for a fresh author but I was pleasantly surprised to see that all locations are well depicted. I'm a local from the main place of action and it really did justice to all the places named and makes the story seem so real.
The plot is quite complex and is made of several layers, it gave me food for thought as to what depth a story can actually reach.
The characters are well contoured and come with complex psychological agendas, an aspect which is usually neglected in this genre. Carl Strom uses different techniques to keep the suspense high and it makes the read quite addictive. I was glued to the book until I got my closure.
I can highly recommend this book to everyone because it is not rigidly stuck in the techno thriller genre but it has touches of everything inside.
The plot is quite complex and is made of several layers, it gave me food for thought as to what depth a story can actually reach.
The characters are well contoured and come with complex psychological agendas, an aspect which is usually neglected in this genre. Carl Strom uses different techniques to keep the suspense high and it makes the read quite addictive. I was glued to the book until I got my closure.
I can highly recommend this book to everyone because it is not rigidly stuck in the techno thriller genre but it has touches of everything inside.
July 21, 2018
I just finished reading this book and I must say it was a complete thrill. The story of the cold blooded assassin Jack takes you from Romania to Malaysia and Singapore and makes you question everything is happening. One of the things I loved about the book is the fact that is written in short chapters, easy to follow, that happen in various parts of the world. Some of them recall memories of Jack that help us understand better this character and why he is the way he is. Other chapters are written in form of articles from newspapers that describe the political world, in which the action takes place – because it is a science fiction book after all, and the action is happening in the future. I loved it and I recommend it to anyone who loves science fiction books packed with action and suspense.
July 16, 2018
Basically I got hooked on this book. I found myself devouring it. This morning I woke up wanting to find out how the story ends... I guess that says it all.
The story opens with a high-suspense scene and that spirit is maintained throughout. The author knows how to create atmospheres as the reader is tactfully walked through different heights of tension and relaxation. Although it's a techno thriller, it skilfully blends in some multiple genres - a bit of cinematic action, a bit of mystery, a bit of romance - which altogether makes it really entertaining.
Plus, if you are looking for a book that triggers in you a wide range of sensory and emotional experiences - from dismay to sweet romantic goosebumps, from empathy to disgust - this is book is totally worth considering.
The story opens with a high-suspense scene and that spirit is maintained throughout. The author knows how to create atmospheres as the reader is tactfully walked through different heights of tension and relaxation. Although it's a techno thriller, it skilfully blends in some multiple genres - a bit of cinematic action, a bit of mystery, a bit of romance - which altogether makes it really entertaining.
Plus, if you are looking for a book that triggers in you a wide range of sensory and emotional experiences - from dismay to sweet romantic goosebumps, from empathy to disgust - this is book is totally worth considering.
July 31, 2018
This book is very special to me because the story begins in Bucharest, Romania. I live in Romania and it was a pleasure to read this book. Each chapter is full of actions and the locations are very well chosen, also the characters are well described. The author thought about every little detail. This book is a perfect combination of action, mystery and drama. I was surprised by this book because I usually don`t read books like this (crime or action books), but the way the book is written made me feel like I am living inside an action movie. Especially I liked the combination of mystery with humor and action. I recommend this book for those who want to spend the evenings reading a very interesting book.
July 11, 2018
Awesome is one word for this book. This Techno thriller book got chills running down my spines. I completed this thriller in hours. I couldn't just stop reading. The heightened use of suspense is top-notch. Only a brilliant author could do this. The GIA operations, Jack Shaw's brilliance and his partner Yi Ling and the latter introduction of Wong displayed a well plotted story. For those interested in reading thrillers, this is one I bet is worth your time and for those who don't like thrillers, I can vogue you would have a change of mind after reading Carl Strom's Unforeseen Enemy. Great piece!
July 16, 2018
First of all, I want to say that I LOVE this book. It is long. It is very long. However, it is super descriptive, which I absolutely enjoyed. I was able to imagine every single detail because of this. The writing kept me entertained and enthralled the entire time. The story was easy to follow, and the characters were well rounded. I am a Tom Clancy fan, and this was as good, if not better.
July 20, 2018
This sexy thriller unfolds slowly and mysteriously, putting it right up there with some of the most compelling mysteries I've read. Many books that attempt to include so many characters just get confusing, but this novel pulls it off expertly. I couldn't put it down! A definite must-read!
July 23, 2018
Very enjoyable read. Action thrillers aren't usually my thing, but I would definitely recommend this book!
June 26, 2024
Unforeseen Enemy was a bit out of my usual genres of reading, but I was very glad I picked it up. Most impressive to me was the story's sense of balance: scenes were short enough to keep attention but not be choppy, the thrill and action was balanced with character-developing drama, and the sci-fi was intriguing but not outlandish or unbelievable for the time period.
The main character, Jack, was most memorable to me. He has the skill set to perform his role of a government agent, but also has personal challenges, which make him feel real. Rather crafting Jack to be an invincible 007 or Ethan Hunt, Strom let the readers see Jack's PTSD from Afghanistan and his emotional distress over his broken family, both of which make Jack relatable as a human.
The story takes a unique look at genetic engineering in the perspective of human trafficking. Human trafficking of all sorts-sex, labor, and organ-is already an issue in south-east Asia, where much of the narrative takes place. In Unforeseen Enemy, genetically engineered humans are the newest high-end good to hit the market. The story explores what problems the near future may hold with genetic engineering.
The main character, Jack, was most memorable to me. He has the skill set to perform his role of a government agent, but also has personal challenges, which make him feel real. Rather crafting Jack to be an invincible 007 or Ethan Hunt, Strom let the readers see Jack's PTSD from Afghanistan and his emotional distress over his broken family, both of which make Jack relatable as a human.
The story takes a unique look at genetic engineering in the perspective of human trafficking. Human trafficking of all sorts-sex, labor, and organ-is already an issue in south-east Asia, where much of the narrative takes place. In Unforeseen Enemy, genetically engineered humans are the newest high-end good to hit the market. The story explores what problems the near future may hold with genetic engineering.
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